Editing Agent Orange (section)

===U.S.–Vietnamese government negotiations===
In 2002, Vietnam and the U.S. held a joint conference on Human Health and Environmental Impacts of Agent Orange. Following the conference, the U.S. [[National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences]] (NIEHS) began scientific exchanges between the U.S. and Vietnam, and began discussions for a joint research project on the human health impacts of Agent Orange.{{sfn|Young|2009|p=310}} These negotiations broke down in 2005, when neither side could agree on the research protocol and the research project was canceled. More progress has been made on the environmental front. In 2005, the first U.S.-Vietnam workshop on remediation of dioxin was held.{{sfn|Young|2009|p=310}}

Starting in 2005, the EPA began to work with the Vietnamese government to measure the level of dioxin at the Da Nang Air Base. Also in 2005, the Joint Advisory Committee on Agent Orange, made up of representatives of Vietnamese and U.S. government agencies, was established. The committee has been meeting yearly to explore areas of scientific cooperation, technical assistance and [[environmental remediation]] of dioxin.<ref>{{cite press release |url = http://vietnam.usembassy.gov/pr081209.html |title = US, Vietnam to Hold Fourth Joint Advisory Meeting on Agent Orange/Dioxin |publisher=Embassy of the United States, Hanoi |access-date = August 11, 2011|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111015102640/http://vietnam.usembassy.gov/pr081209.html|archive-date = October 15, 2011}}</ref>

A breakthrough in the diplomatic stalemate on this issue occurred as a result of United States President [[George W. Bush]]'s state visit to Vietnam in November 2006. In the joint statement, President Bush and [[President Triet]] agreed "further joint efforts to address the environmental contamination near former dioxin storage sites would make a valuable contribution to the continued development of their bilateral relationship."<ref>{{Cite press release|url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/p/eap/rls/prs/76322.htm|title=Joint Statement Between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the United States of America |publisher=United States Department of State |access-date=2017-03-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330081119/https://2001-2009.state.gov/p/eap/rls/prs/76322.htm|archive-date=2017-03-30|url-status=live}}</ref> On May 25, 2007, President Bush signed the [[U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007]] into law for the [[Iraq War|wars in Iraq]] and [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|Afghanistan]] that included an earmark of $3 million specifically for funding for programs for the remediation of dioxin 'hotspots' on former U.S. [[military bases]], and for public health programs for the surrounding communities;{{sfn|Martin|2009|p=2}} some authors consider this to be completely inadequate, pointing out that the Da Nang Airbase alone will cost $14 million to clean up, and that three others are estimated to require $60 million for cleanup.<ref name="fawthrop-suffering" /> The appropriation was renewed in the fiscal year 2009 and again in FY 2010. An additional $12 million was appropriated in the fiscal year 2010 in the Supplemental Appropriations Act and a total of $18.5 million appropriated for fiscal year 2011.<ref>{{cite press release |last=Leahy |first=Patrick |url = http://leahy.senate.gov/press/press_releases/release/?id=aaea045d-2239-4e5d-bc0e-87575d887daa |title = Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy on the Legacy of Agent Orange |access-date = August 11, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120325221817/http://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/press_releases/release/?id=aaea045d-2239-4e5d-bc0e-87575d887daa |archive-date = March 25, 2012 |url-status = live}}</ref>

Secretary of State [[Hillary Clinton]] stated during a visit to Hanoi in October 2010 that the U.S. government would begin work on the clean-up of dioxin contamination at the Da Nang Airbase.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/22/AR2010072200713.html|title=In Hanoi, Clinton highlights closer ties with Vietnam, pushes for human rights|last=DeYoung|first=Karen|date=2010-07-22|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=2017-03-29|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330174330/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/22/AR2010072200713.html|archive-date=2017-03-30|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2011, a ceremony was held at Da Nang airport to mark the start of U.S.-funded decontamination of dioxin hotspots in Vietnam. Thirty-two million dollars has so far been allocated by the U.S. Congress to fund the program.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13808753|title=US helps Vietnam to eradicate deadly Agent Orange|date=2011-06-17|work=BBC News|access-date=2017-03-29|language=en-GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701222125/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13808753|archive-date=2017-07-01|url-status=live}}</ref> A $43 million project began in the summer of 2012, as Vietnam and the U.S. forge closer ties to boost trade and counter China's rising influence in the disputed [[South China Sea]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Ives|first=Mike|title=US starts landmark Agent Orange cleanup in Vietnam|url=https://news.yahoo.com/us-starts-landmark-agent-orange-cleanup-vietnam-100542424.html|work=Yahoo! News|access-date=8 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120810080122/http://news.yahoo.com/us-starts-landmark-agent-orange-cleanup-vietnam-100542424.html|archive-date=10 August 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>